Modification 11 Karuah (East) Pit Consolidation Project

I have no objections to the expansion of the Karuah East Quarry Project Modifications, The Karuah Quarry has been operating for more than twenty years and has a good reputation in the community. Quarries and quarry products are essential, as long as all guidelines are followed and maintained set out by the department of planning, the modification should be allowed to go ahead.

I support the project

I totally object to the approval of Karuah Hard Rock Quarry Modification 11 due to ongoing and increased issues of noise,dust,heavy vehicle traffic and blasting toxic fumes.If approved this modification will cause increased levels of noise ,dust and toxic blast fumes due to the removal of the hard rock highwall adjoining the Karuah East Quarry with Karuah Hard Rock Quarry. Allowing the Proponent to increase blasting times is very detrimental to nearby residents entitlements of clean air ,water and quality of life. The potential for increased toxic blast fumes is extremely high due to the necessity of the highwall for this modification. Heavy vehicle traffic will also increase due to increased extraction and product availability, which continually puts pressure on the smaller roads into and out of the Quarry as well as increased trucks on the Highway which is already dangerous with the current truck size and numbers ,as well as causing extreme damage to the road surfaces due to weight and constant pressure onto the deteriorating roads.
Approval of this proposed Modification is only supportive to the Proponent and puts increased affects to the environment, wildlife,road safety and nearby residents.

As a joint owner of Wallaburra Wildlife Reserve we strongly object to this proposed Karuah Hard Rock Quarry Modification 11 as it will have detrimental affects to our environment and health and well being on a daily basis. As our Reserve is located approximately 82 metres above sea level when we look directly East we can clearly see the increasing scar on the Ridge from this Quarry. We are constantly being affected by dust and also blast fumes .My wife was badly affected by blast fumes a few years ago where she was outside of the house and looked towards the Quarry and saw a huge plume rise up above the pit ,within a few minutes she was overcome by a choking toxic smell in the air ,to the point where she was left fighting for breath and gasping to breath ,she struggled back to the house with a burning sensation in her mouth and throat, as well as stinging in her eyes ,to date no one from either the Department of Planning, Hunter Quarry or EPA has come to our property to visually see what we do or experience these affects .Visitors who come to our property walk down our driveway then gasp ,often saying "what's that over there " to which we respond it's Hunter Quarry's destroying and eating away at the Ridge to our East .They often reply with "that's terrible "or "how can the Government allow this " in their comments.I have attached a few photos from our camera to highlight our issue.If approved this Modification will only add increased detrimental effects on our environment and native wildlife, as we well as additional Heavy Truck movements on both small feeder roads and the Highway.
The removal of the hard rock highwall adjoining the Karuah East Quarry to Karuah Hard Rock Quarry will see increased affects both with extended blast times which will increase dust ,noise and toxic blast gases being emitted into the atmosphere. We already suffer from these environmental effects, as highlighted previously and any ongoing increase would have a negative impact on our Wildlife Reserve. I summary this Modification will have detrimental ongoing effects on our environment, with dust,noise,blast fumes and Truck movements from this Quarry and its operations and must be rejected.

See attached